Attachment for emptying tea-chests



(No Model.)

M. L. GAGE.

ATTACHMENT FOR EMPTYING TEA GHESTS. No. 280.168. i Patented June 26, 1883.

' UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

MORGAN L. GAGE, OF VASSAR, MICHIGAN.

ATTACHMENT FOR ElVIPTYlN-G TEAQCHESTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,168, dated June26, 1883.

Application filed May 22,1893. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MORGAN L. GAGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vassar, in the county of Tuscola and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Attachment for Emptying Tea-Chests, of which the following is a specification, reference be ing had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to attachments to teachests of that class which are adapted. to be inserted in a slot made in the bottom of the original chest, so that the contents of the chest can be readily scooped through the same; and its object is to provide an attachment possessing superior advantages in point of simplicity, inexpensiveness, and general efliciency.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved attachment. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same, showing it in position in the chest. Fig. 3 is, a horizontal sectional view taken through the chest above the attachment, and showing one end of the latter broken away in section.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a tea-chest of ordinary construction, having a transverse slot or opening, B, out in one side at the bottom. In this opening the emptying attachment is adapted to be inserted and secured inthe usual manner.

The attachment has a bottom plate, 0, having its front edge, D, bent up at an angle to its main portion, as shown. At the vertex of this angle the bottom plate is provided with a transverse groove, E, the purpose of which will be presently described. The portion F of the bottom plate, 0, in rear of this groove, is formed perfectly fiat and horizontal, so as to afford a smooth surface to the scoop, and the said portion is arranged to project a considerable distance into the tea-chest from the main portion of the attachment. The rear edge, G, of the bottom is preferably beveled, to facilitate its entrance through the tea when the attachment is placed in position in the chest, and the "said bottom plate, 0, will rest on the bottom of the tea-chest.

H designates a transverse vertical arch-plate, that extends from the bottom plate, 0, some distance in rear of its groove E, and is provided with a series of perforations, I, through chest when the attachment is placed in position in the opening cut in the same.

K K are side plates, which are disposed verti cally, and extend from the extreme front edge, D, of the bottom plate, 0, up to and through the arch-plate, as shown at L. These rear por tions of the sides L come inside the chest, and

are cut away at the bottom, as shown at M, to

the front wall of the chest, so that the tea can be easily scooped from the corners of the latter. On these rearportions, L L, of .the sides is supported a cross-piece, O, that inclines rear wardly from the front wall of the chest, and prevents the tea from falling and flooding the mouth of the attachment. The front portion, P, of the cross-piece O is horizontal and extends under the arch-plate, and projects from the face thereof to form a transverse flange, Q, as shown.

B designates the door-plate, which is hinged at its lower edge, S, down between the sides K K in the groove E and to the bottom plate, 0. By'thus hinging the door-plate between the sides and in the transverse groove, all liability of tea escaping at the hinge-j oint is averted, and an otherwise neat and efficient joint is secured. WVhen the door is turned down on its hinge, it will rest 011 the angular edge D, and will be supported in an inclined position, (that is, inclining rearwardly to the bottom plate, 0,) as shown in dotted lines, Fig.. 2 of the drawings, so that in scooping out the tea there will be no waste over the door. The angular arrangement of the edge D also serves to retain the tea, should any escape outside the door, and prevent it from falling on the floor. The top edge, T, of the door-plate is curved to form an extension, U, corresponding to the flange Q, and fitting over the same to form a neat and tight joint.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood.

The device is very siniple and efficient, and

'is especially convenient and advantageous.

By reason of the bottom plate, 0, extending a of the attachment, and provided with an upturned front end disposed at an angle to the main horizontal portion of the said bottom plate, and formed with atransverse groove at the vertex of this angle, side plates extending from the extreme front edge of the bottom plate, and the door-plate hinged at its bottom edge in the groove in the bottom plate, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. As an improved article of manufacture,

the herein-described emptying attachment for tea-chests, comprising the fiat bottom plate having its front edge bent up at an angle to the main portion and formed with a transverse groove at the vertex of this angle, the archplate, the side plates extending up from the extreme front edge of the bottom plate and through the arch, and having their portions in rear of the latter cut away, to enable the contents of the chest to be removed from the cor ners thereof, the cross-plate 011 top the sides, adapted to incline from the front wall of the chest and projecting horizontally forward in front of the arch, and the door-plate hinged at its bottom edge in the transverse groove and to the bottom plate and down between the sides, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. As an improvement in emptying attachments for tea-chests, the combination, with the flat bottom plate having its front edge bent up at an angle to its main portion, and provided with a transverse groove at the vertex of this angle, of the side plates extending up from the bottom, and the door-plate hinged to the bottom plate in the groove and down between the sides, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. As an improvement in emptying attachments for teachests, the herein-described device, comprising the bottom plate, the side plates extending from the same and having the cut-away rear portions, the arch-plate, the cross-plate inclined and projecting forwardly, and the door-plate hinged to the bottom plate at its bottom edge and down between the side plates, and having its top edge curved to correspond to the projecting portion of the crossplate and arranged to rest thereon, as and for the purpose set forth,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MORGAN L. GAGE.

Vitnesses:

F. BoURNs, GEo. E. MEEHAN. 

